This post is wayyy overdue. In case you’re wondering, I have not abandoned my Ayurvedic Regimen, I’ve just been kinda ummm…. lazy in doing the posts 🙂 Anywho, I did my first Cassia Obovata Treatment about a month ago (this means I’m due for another one).
The steps were similar to the Henna Gloss but instead of adding conditioner and water
I added the following to approx 100 grams of Cassia Obovata:
- 1 Cup Coconut Milk – helps to make the mix smooth and eliminates frizz
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil – to help combat the drying effects
- 2 Tablespoons Honey – humectant, helps with softness
- Enough warm water to achieve a “yogurt like” consistency.
What is Cassia Obovata?
- A powder derived from the flowering desert plant also known as henna.
- It is referred to as “neutral henna”, however it is not true henna
- Like henna, it strengthens and conditions the hair shaft, improves overall health and adds lots of shine
- It will make damaged hair silky, thick (by coating the strands) and lustrous
- It will keep your scalp healthy and eliminate dandruff.
- Cassia, unlike henna, does not color dark hair.
The effects of Cassia only lasts about a month so it needs to be repeated monthly if you want to maintain the benefits.
After mixing my paste, I allowed it to set for 30 minutes to allow any lumps to dissolve. The paste was smooth and smelled like grass, and the texture reminded me of pureed Calaloo. I applied the paste to my (damp, dirty) hair, wrap wrapped it in saran wrap and a grocery bag and allowed it to sit on my hair for about 3 hours.
The Results
While rinsing out the treatment, my hair felt great, it was soft and weighed down (the effects of the Cassia coating my strands). For the most part, the paste was easy to rinse out, however, the Cassia that I used (purchased from an Amazon seller) was EXTREMELY gritty! I had to rinse for almost 20 minutes to get the grit out of my hair. I then shampooed with my Bobeam Cheris Hibiscus Shampoo Bar.
Otherwise, my hair was soft and shiny even before I deep conditioned with my Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner.
These twists were done right after my Cassia Obovata Treatment.
You can view how I mix the paste here and the application and results here! You can also view them by clicking the Youtube videos tab on the orange bar below 🙂
I’ll definitely be continuing with these treatments because my hair LOVES them! Do you use Ayurvedic Treatments? Share your experience below…
EDIT on March 11, 2012: I now add at least 4 tablespoons of Amla Powder to my Cassia Treatments. Amla prevents my curl pattern from loosening, an effect that Cassia can have with continued use.
Until next time
LOL@drooling! Thanks Coilybella 🙂
wow!!!!!!!! I am drooling over your twists!